Combined watchcase and band therefor



June 27, 1950 I BARRE 2,512,992

COMBINED WATCHCASE AND BAND THEREFOR Filed July 16, 1947 INVENTOR.

Robe/"f A. Barre" Patented June 27 1950 COMBINED WATCHCASE AND THEREFOR BAND Robert A. Barr, New York, N. Y., assignor to Schlumberger, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 16, 1947, Serial No. 761,282

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to a combined wrist watch case and band therefor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a combined wristwatch case and band therefor in which the watch case constitutes an integral part of the band.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a combined wrist watch case and band in which the watch case is an element in the mechanism for closing and locking the band about the wrist of the wearer.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a combined wrist watch case and band in which the wrist pressure is a factor in keeping and maintaining the case and band safely and securely locked about the wrist.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a wrist watch case and band combination in which the interlocking means for the case and band about the wrist are located in a readily and easily accessible position for increased convenience in manipulation.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a combined Wrist watch case and band of the character described which may be easily and readily interlocked and opened by a simple single operation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a combined wrist watch case and a band of the character described having locking means of highly simplified construction and design, in which all intermediate and extraneous locking devices, such as latching or hooking mechanisms, now conventionally used, are completely eliminated.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a combined wristwatch case and band of the character described which is capable of a great variety of novel and decorative treatment in its exterior design as well as in .the arrangement and construction of its parts and elements.

The foregoing and other advantages and superiorities of the combined wrist watch case and band of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and from the description following. It is to be understood, however, that such embodiment is shown by Way of illustration only, to make the principles and practice of the invention more readily comprehensible, and without any intent of limiting the invention to the specific details therein shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a foreshortened, plan view of one embodiment of a combined wrist watch case and band therefor of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing the case and band in unlocked relation;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, showing the case and band interlocked; the broken line figure indicating a step in the lockingdoperation; and

Fig. 4 is an end view of the case, as seen from the left of Fig. 1, showing one of the locking elements'of the case.

Referring more's pecifiically to theaccompanying drawings, the combination of watch case and band of the present invention may comprise a case, generally designated as Ill, and a band adapted to retain the case about the wrist of the wearer and generally designatedas I I. The case I0 may, in general, be of any desired size, shape, style and outline and may be formed'of any material conventionally used for the purpose. The band I I may also be of any desired material, style and construction conventionally in use.

The case II] may have, in its overall construction, the bottom wall I2, the top I3, the side walls I4 and end walls I5 and I6, respectively.

In the preferred embodiment shown, the side walls I4 extend, in one direction, as in the di-' rection of end wall I5, beyond such Wall, to form the lugs I! through which may pass and be removably held the pin l8, which engages one end of the band II. The top wall I3 may, if desired for the purpose of improved appearance, extend over the lugs I1, to present a continuous top surface.

The top I3 of the case I0 may slope downwardly in the direction of the end I6, as at 20, and part of the slope may overhang the bottom I2 of the case, the overhanging portion being, preferably offset from the bottom l2 to form a recess 2|, within which may extend, in protected position, a winding stem 22 of a watch movement arranged within the case.

It may here be stated that for the purposes of the present invention it is not material where the receptacle portion and where the cover portion of the watch case begin and end; the overall exterior of the watch case being the only concern of the invention; although the illustrative em bodiment of the invention shows the bottom wall as being the sole exposed portion of the watch movement receiving portion of the case.

A frame 25, adapted to fit about the periphery of the case I0, is carried on the free end of the the band passed around it andthe frame fitted over the case and engaged thereon; Inthe illustrative embodiment of the drawings, the forward faces of thelugs I! are provided With-1011 gitudinally disposed grooves29; whichal'eladapteidto receive and hold the forward side 30, f the frame 25. The rear wall [6, which may preferably slope, may be provided; adjacent its upper edge, with a projecting lip 3|, preferably:

extruded therefrom, over which the rear side 32, of theframe 25, maysnap into place after the forward side 39, thereof --is engagedin the grooves 29, thereby-completely engaging the free end of theband ll, on the case). A second extruded lip or projection 33, may be formed at the bottom of therear. wall 16 of the case I0 to-preventdownwarddisplacement of the frame relatiyethe case;

It will be readily apparent that the band locking means of the combined wrist watch-case and band of: the present invention is conveniently located for manipulation at the back of-therwrist, rather than at the front thereof. as prevails With/band locking. devices now conventionally used; thatit is easy to manipulatefor opening and closing; that it formsa safe andsecure closure .by reason of the wrist pressure which tends to maintain the case and frame iniinterlocked relation once they are interengaged.

.It will also be. readily apparent that many modifications and. variations of thecombination of the present invention. may readily suggest themselves and be made by any one skilledin the art, in accordance with the principles of the,

comprising a watch case, a band secured by one end to one side of said case, a frame on the other end of said band. adapted to fit about said case, a groove on one side of said case adapted to receive one side of said frame and a projection on an opposed side of said case adapted to retainan opposed side of said frame, whereby said frame may be releasably interengaged on said case.

2. A combined watch case and band therefor, comprising a watch case having substantially upright wall portions, a band secured by one end to one side of said case, a frame onthe other end of said band' adapted to fit about the upright portiomofv'saidcase, a groove on one of said upright wall portions: adapted to receive one side of. said frame and a projection on the opposed upright wall portion adapted to retain the 0pposed. wall of said frame.

3. The combined watch case and band therefor of claim 2, wherein the said groove is'formed on the side of the case opposite the side by which itis secured to the said band.

4. The combined watch case and band. therefor, comprising a watch'case having substantially upright wall portions, a band secured by one end to oneside of said case, a frame on the other end-of said band-adapted to fit about the upright wall portions of said case, an inward depression on one of said upright wall portions adapted to receive therein aportion of said frame, and: means on-an opposed upright wall portionfor receivingan opposed portion of said frame.

5. The combined watch. case and band therefor of claim 4 wherein the said opposed frame portionis adjacent to its point of connection to saidrband.

ROBERT A. BARRE'.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are'of record in the fileof this patent:

FGREIGN PATENTS Niimher Country Date 82,823 Switzerland Oct. 16, 1919 212,678 1 Switzerland Mar. 17, 1941 482,804 -Great Britain Apr. 5, 1938 49,625. France Sept.- 3, 1928 767,942 France May 7, 1934 

